Shrewsbury B have moved nine points clear at top of Shropshire Online Chess League division two – with the finishing line in sight.
Their latest triumph was a 3-0 victory over mid-table Oswestry C – a 10th victory in 13 undefeated league games.
Telford’s surprise loss to Newport A has helped the B’s increase their lead at the top of the table. They are nine points clear with just three games to play – but Telford do have three games in hand and the top two sides will face each other before the end of the season.
The battle of the Smiths on top board was won by Shrewsbury captain Mark Smith, who defeated Oswestry’s Jonathan in a knight ending.
Shrewsbury’s Smith seized the upper hand earlier in the middlegame, gaining crucial control of the d-file early on before winning a pawn on move 20.
Although his opponent battled gamely, Mark won a second pawn and forced the exchange of the final pair of rooks on move 27 to transpose to a completely won ending. Victory was sealed on move 58.
Stephen Priestley ground down Steve Tulett with the white pieces on board two. Emerging from the opening with the more comfortable game, Priestley won a pawn on move 18 and his impressive chain of pawns stretching from b2 to e5 helped him control the position.
He won a second pawn on move 28 before launching a kingside attack, and when Tulett blundered a piece on move 35 the game was over instantly.
Ivor Salter was involved in a tight middlegame battle with Alf Evans on bottom board. Salter, playing with the black pieces, had enjoyed a decent advantage out of the opening.
But some errors during the middlegame meant a sharp position was level and it was anyone’s game around the move 30 mark. However, Evans then blundered his queen and resigned instantly.
The C’s were this week facing Newport Juniors and will play Oswestry C next, before the Shrewsbury club derby between the C’s and the B’s in the week commencing June 6.
Shrewsbury B 3-0 Oswestry C (Shrewsbury black on odd boards)
1.Mark Smith 1-0 Jonathan Smith
2.Stephen Priestley 1-0 Steve Tulett
3.Ivor Salter 1-0 Alf Evans